History of Puma
Puma, the German multinational known for athletic and casual footwear, apparel, and accessories, traces its roots to Herzogenaurach, a small town in Bavaria. Brothers Adolf and Rudolf Dassler originally ran a shoe business together, but after a bitter falling-out the company split in 1948. Adolf went on to found Adidas, while Rudolf established his own company, first called Ruda and soon rebranded as Puma. The rivalry between the two brothers divided their hometown for decades and pushed both companies to innovate.
In its early years, Puma made its mark in competitive sport, supplying footwear to Olympic champions and professional football teams. Its introduction of screw-in football studs in the early 1950s boosted its reputation among players. Moments such as Pelé wearing Puma boots at the 1970 World Cup, and the launch of the Puma Suede in the late 1960s, turned the brand into a fixture of both sport and street culture.
From 2007, Puma was majority-owned by the French luxury group Kering (formerly PPR), which later distributed most of its stake to shareholders in 2018, leaving Puma an independently listed company. During this period, the brand leaned into partnerships with sprinter Usain Bolt, footballers across Europe and South America, and cultural figures such as Rihanna, whose Fenty x Puma line brought renewed attention to the brand.
Today, Puma operates in more than 120 countries and balances heritage models like the Suede and Palermo with new performance technology. Through high-profile sponsorships, lifestyle collaborations, and a growing digital presence, it remains one of the world's largest sportswear companies, competing directly with Nike and its old neighbour, Adidas.